Oyster

• "the world is my oyster" - phrase meaning the world offers opportunities for profit.

• "Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open." Pistol, (2.2.3-4) from Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor', his only comedy set in England.

• Oyster = world, just as the following reference to Atlas who carried the world upon his shoulders. (In actual fact, Atlas carried the heavens on his shoulder. Atlas could equally refer to heaven, thus oyster = earth)

• British gay slang: the mouth is the oyster (and the pearls are teeth). "footblows coulinclouted upon his oyster and atlas" seems to suggest that "oyster" and "atlas" are also parts of his anatomy ("atlas" is part of the neck). 'Oyster bay' is Cockney Rhyming Slang for 'gay'. 'Oyster' is also slang for the vagina. It is also slang for a close-mouthed person.